How combining creativity and operations can amplify a franchise brand’s success.

By Drew French

Ingenuity plays an integral role in any brand’s longevity; however, it must be coupled with operational excellence to ensure success. How can brands strike the right balance between creativity and operations for long-term growth?

Here are a few ways you can channel out-of-the-box thinking into a successful and sustainable franchise business.

Four steps to help a franchise effectively address a PR crisis through email.

By Colby Cavanaugh

Chances are you’ve heard about health scares faced by food franchises like Chipotle Mexican Grill. When a franchise experiences any sort of widespread crisis – whether it be a foodborne illness, a product recall or a scandal among its leaders – the issue often becomes public knowledge that, if left unaddressed, can damage its brand reputation for good. After all, as a result of social media and a headline-centric media culture, any news flash involving a well-known brand is sure to generate clicks.

Determining how to handle sexual harassment claims can be overwhelming and terrifying for every business – from small, local franchise stores to large corporations. But it shouldn’t be.

Regrettably, at some point, people who run or own a franchise might become aware of sexual harassment at their workplace. Here are a few tips that will help you address sexual harassment quickly and successfully.

You can expect several critical changes to employment laws in 2018 that will impact franchise businesses that employ hourly workers. It is important for all local franchise managers and employees to be aware of these changes so they can comply with the regulations.

A well-known futurist sees a lot of green ahead for businesses and consumers who care to partake.

By Faith Popcorn

While many food and beverage leaders are tinkering with their current offerings, most are missing a huge opportunity with a product that’s as old as nature itself: the increasingly legal marijuana plant.

Don’t laugh – unless you’re already high, in which case go on and enjoy yourself – marijuana is very big business, and it’s only getting bigger. In 2016, the North American market was worth $6.7 billion, according to Forbes, a whopping 30 percent more than the year before.